Ready to speak better with the Filipinos? Today, we will learn about the basic vocabulary and expressions for different body parts in Tagalog. As the popular Filipino song goes, “Paa, Tuhod, Balikat Ulo…” there are specific words that you must use so that the locals will be able to understand you right away. Let’s learn more about this topic below!
The song mentioned above is very popular and has been part of elementary education in the Philippines. This song or nursery rhyme is used by parents and teachers so that children at a very young age can learn about the different body parts.
Fun fact: when you enter a traditional Filipino house with a child living there, you’ll typically see posters of the alphabet and the different parts of the body in Tagalog and its English translation. Interesting, right?
Parts Of The Body In The Filipino Language
To say “parts of the body” in Tagalog/ Filipino language is “mga hahagi ng katawan”. The different body parts are one of the first lessons taught to children in their homes by their parents. This makes sense because we all know the importance of learning about the different body parts and the words to use in everyday life. In this part of the blog, we will learn first about the body parts that we usually see on our faces.
Head – Ulo
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Ulo[/Speechword]
Of course, the first body part is our head, or “ulo” in Tagalog. There’s this Filipino idiom that says “matigas ang ulo,” which means “hard-headed person.” They also say “mahina ang ulo” to describe a person that is not so smart.
Face – Mukha
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Mukha[/Speechword]
Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, Megan Young, and Kylie Versoza are just a few of many Filipino women that won international pageants. This is proof that a Filipino’s face can stand out.
Today, different skincare and cosmetic products influenced by foreign countries, especially South Korea, are very popular among Filipinos, both male and female.
Hair – Buhok
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Buhok[/Speechword]
Naturally-born Filipino hair is black in color. But, because of modern influences, many Filipinos dye their hair in different colors, mostly brown or blonde.
Hair or “buhok” is a big deal for Filipinos. Their hair is usually straight, but there are also lots of Filipinos that have curly or wavy hair. There’s also this joke that the month of December is the rebond season because this is when people are on a break, have different parties to attend, and of course, they have lots of money.
Forehead – Noo
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Noo[/Speechword]
When you hear the joke “airport,” this means that one’s forehead is very wide. This is a joke that I think is unique among Filipinos. Foreheads are also a big deal among Filipinos. For men, it’s quite okay, but for women, it’s a little bothering; that’s why people women who have a wide forehead usually get bangs to hide it. Some also believe that people with a wide forehead are smart, so when someone with a wide forehead is being teased, this is what they usually say in return.
Eye Brow – Kilay
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Kilay[/Speechword]
“Kilay is life. (Eyebrow is life.).” This is an expression that girls usually use to indicate how important an eyebrow or kilay is. Well, we all know how our eyebrows can change someone’s look. Because of this, eyebrow products like eyebrow gel, pencil, powder, or pomade are really in demand. They also do different kinds of eyebrow procedures like threading or eyebrow tattoo to maintain the “Kilay on fleek. (Eyebrow on fleek)” look.
Eyes – Mata
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Mata[/Speechword]
Filipinos have the typical Asian eyes or “singkit” but are not as small as Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese to the point that they want to undergo a double eyelid procedure. There are also Filipinos that have big rounded eyes.
When it comes to idioms, the most famous one is “matang-lawin,” which describes someone with a quick sight like a hawk.
Ears – Tainga
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Tainga[/Speechword]
If you know a Filipino parent, you have most certainly heard of the idiom“taingang kawali,” which means “an ear made of the pan.” Still, contextually it means someone who is pretending not to hear anything.
Filipinos typically have medium-sized ears. Back then, having ear piercings, especially for boys, was not so common, but today, many people, including men, want many ear piercings. This is probably brought by foreign influences.
Nose – Ilong
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Ilong[/Speechword]
Tayo’y mga Pinoy
Tayo’y hindi ‘Kano
‘Wag kang mahihiya
Kung ang ilong mo ay pango
These lines from a traditional Filipino song tell that the real Pinoys should embrace their physical characteristics, like having a flat nose. Filipinos do not naturally have pointed noses. Having flat and big noses is one of the most common insecurities of Filipinos; that’s why many of them are undergoing rhinoplasty, which is a surgery to lift the nose.
Not so long ago, a Filipino TV show “Kapuso mo, Jessica Soho” features different Filipinos who have undergone this medical procedure to improve their noses. Although many Filipinos are insecure about their noses, there are still those Filipinos who embrace them as part of their own natural body.
Mouth – Bibig
[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]Bibig[/Speechword]
The Tagalog word for mouth is “bibig.”This is indeed one of the most important body parts for Filipinos because first, they love to eat, they are known for being one of the best singers in the world, and of course, they are known for their sweet smiles. Of course, there are also different parts of the mouth area, which you will learn from the table below.

Parts Of The Mouth
English | Tagalog |
mouth | bibig [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bibig[/Speechword] |
tongue | dila [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]dila[/Speechword] |
teeth | mga ngipin [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga ngipin[/Speechword] |
lip | labi [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]labi[/Speechword] |
gum | gilagid [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]gilagid[/Speechword] |
palate | ngalangala [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]ngalangala[/Speechword] |
tonsil | tonsil [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]tonsil[/Speechword] |
saliva | laway [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]laway[/Speechword] |
Other Human Body Parts In Tagalog
After learning the different body parts found in our face, here is a list of more parts of the body in Tagalog:

English | Tagalog |
eyelid | talukap [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]talukap[/Speechword] |
eyelashes | pilikmata [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]pilikmata[/Speechword] |
cheek | pisngi [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]pisngi[/Speechword] |
chin | baba [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]baba[/Speechword] |
beard | balbas [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]balbas[/Speechword] |
mustache | bigote [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bigote[/Speechword] |
back | likod [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]likod[/Speechword] |
skin | balat [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]balat[/Speechword] |
neck | leeg [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]leeg[/Speechword] |
shoulders | balikat [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]balikat[/Speechword] |
batok | nape [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]nape[/Speechword] |
chest/breast | dibdib [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]dibdib[/Speechword] |
belly button | pusod [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]pusod[/Speechword] |
stomach/belly | tiyan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]tiyan[/Speechword] |
arms | braso [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]braso[/Speechword] |
armpi | kilikili [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]kilikili[/Speechword] |
elbow | siko [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]siko[/Speechword] |
palm | palad [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]palad[/Speechword] |
wrist | galang-galangan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]galang-galangan[/Speechword] |
waist | baywang/bewang[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]baywang[/Speechword] |
hip | balakang [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]balakang[/Speechword] |
groin | singit [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]singit[/Speechword] |
butt | puwet/pwet [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]puwet[/Speechword] |
butt cheek | pisngi ng puwet [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]pisngi ng puwet[/Speechword] |
thigh | hita [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]hita[/Speechword] |
legs/calf | mga binti [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga binti[/Speechword] |
knees | mga tuhod [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga tuhod[/Speechword] |
calf muscle | alak-alakan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]alak-alakan[/Speechword] |
ankle | bukong bukong [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bukong bukong[/Speechword] |
feet | mga paa [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga paa[/Speechword] |
heel | sakong [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]sakong[/Speechword] |
sole of the foot | talampakan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]talampakan[/Speechword] |
Fingers And Toes

English | Tagalog |
index finger | hintuturo [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]hintuturo[/Speechword] |
middle finger | hinlalato [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]hinlalato[/Speechword] |
ring finger | palasingsingan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]palasingsingan[/Speechword] |
pinky/little finger | hinliliit [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]hinliliit[/Speechword] |
thumb | hinlalaki [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]hinlalaki[/Speechword] |
nails | mga kuko [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga kuko[/Speechword] |
finger | daliri [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]daliri[/Speechword] |
Internal Body Parts
English | Tagalog |
skull | bungo [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bungo[/Speechword] |
spine | gulugod [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]gulugod[/Speechword] |
bones | mga buto [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga buto[/Speechword] |
brain | utak [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]utak[/Speechword] |
throat | lalamunan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]lalamunan[/Speechword] |
muscle | kalamnan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]kalamnan[/Speechword] |
heart | puso [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]puso[/Speechword] |
vein | ugat [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]ugat[/Speechword] |
blood | dugo [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]dugo[/Speechword] |
lungs | mga baga [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga baga[/Speechword] |
liver | atay [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]atay[/Speechword] |
intestines | mga bituka [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mga bituka[/Speechword] |
gallbladder | apdo [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]apdo[/Speechword] |
bladder | pantog [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]pantog[/Speechword] |
ovary | obaryo [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]obaryo[/Speechword] |
uterus | bahay-bata [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bahay-bata[/Speechword] |
pancreas | lapay [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]lapay[/Speechword] |
anus | tumbong [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]tumbong[/Speechword] / puwet [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]puwet[/Speechword] |
vagina/penis | ari (there’s a more informal term for this, but it’s better to use the formal one)[Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]ari[/Speechword] |
Common Words Related To Body Parts In Tagalog
Now that you have learned the different body parts in Tagalog/Filipino, let us now learn some vocabulary words related to body parts.
English | Tagalog |
beautiful | maganda [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]maganda[/Speechword] |
rounded eyes | bilugan ang mata [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]bilugan ang mata[/Speechword] |
small eyes | singkit [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]singkit[/Speechword] |
thin | payat [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]payat[/Speechword] |
fat | mataba [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]mataba[/Speechword] |
sexy | balingkinitan [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]balingkinitan[/Speechword] |
a person who has really developed muscles | maskulado [Speechword voice=”Filipino Female” isinline]maskulado[/Speechword] |
Interested In Learning Tagalog/Filipino?
Talking may just require a few body parts but making actual connections with the locals just require your heart and soul. The country of the Philippines might be a small Asian country, but it has a lot to offer. And the best way to enjoy your time in the Philippines is to connect with the locals. To do that, you can start learning Tagalog with Ling App.
Ling App is a language learning platform that helps you improve your language skills to learn your target language in record time. It will provide you with lots of activities to do. Real language experts and native speakers develop the content of each lesson, so you don’t have anything to worry about. You can also read different blog posts to learn more about their culture.
If you’re interested in discovering Tagalog or other foreign languages, just go to the website, sign up, and start your first lesson right away.